Oh, darling tutus! Itâs Emma here, back for another thrilling Tuesday delve into the wonderful history of the tutu, your favourite (and my favourite) fluffy dance-wear staple. It's so exciting, I've just got back from a whirl through time, and let me tell you, the world of ballet in 1881 was a sight to behold!
Picture this: the gaslight shimmering on Parisian streets, the air alive with the music of Tchaikovskyâs Swan Lake, and the beautiful, elegant dancers all twirling around in... you guessed it, tutus! But not the flamboyant, tiered, multi-layered creations you'd see today. No, 1881's tutu was all about the simple, graceful, and elegant. Think romantic and soft, my dears, and definitely more form-fitting than billowing.
And what was my mission? Well, to see for myself, the impact that tutus had on a performance! You see, this period in ballet is considered by many as a pivotal moment - a time of dramatic changes! Think, for example, of La Sylphide, performed in 1832, a ballet which sparked a revolution in costume design, with the ballerina dancing barefoot, not in heavy pointe shoes!
Itâs true, the tutu has seen some incredible transformations since the days of tight-fitting silk, so it was all very exciting to witness how a more tailored silhouette influenced the whole look and feel of a production.
My trip to France in 1881 began with a delightful train journey across the channel. Iâm absolutely wild about train travel. Theyâre so civilized! It was utterly thrilling, though the smell of coal smoke wasnât quite the aroma of a French patisserie. Nonetheless, once I had reached Paris, I set off in search of all things ballet. And, darling, it was truly a sight to behold! The theatres were absolutely buzzing with excitement.
My first stop was the Opéra Garnier, a palace of a building. Oh, my dears, just imagining myself twirling on that grand stage with its chandelier! I even had a little dance with a fellow theatre-goer.
And then I stumbled across a charming little dress shop right around the corner, filled to the brim with stunning fabrics and ribbons. The owner, Madame Duchamp, was a delightful woman with a twinkle in her eye, and we talked for ages about fashion, the latest dance moves and of course... tutus. "My dear, a good tutu must not only be flattering but it must flow like a wave, capturing the spirit of the dance." Madame Duchamp said. Oh, how I love such a sage view on fashion, darlings! She showed me several lovely white cotton fabrics, lace trims, and even some glittering sequin-work, ready for my imagination to run wild!
Later that week, I watched a performance of "Giselle". Imagine, my dears, the beautiful ballerina, floating across the stage in a dreamy white, tutu, its layers of silk catching the gaslights to create an enchanting aura of movement! Truly captivating!
My visit to 1881 Paris brought the tutu's evolution into sharp focus. The designs back then may have been simpler than our current spectacular extravaganzas, but there's a beauty and a pure elegance to the streamlined silhouette which Iâd simply adore wearing today. Think about it, darlings, just how many amazing dances and designs there are to discover from this time period. From the airy âLa Sylphideâ to the sweeping tragedy of âGiselle.â It was an era that embraced beauty and lightness and it showed, not least of all, in the grace of their tutus. I feel it, darlings, a certain elegant simplicity that was oh so powerful in its effect!
You know me, I always encourage you to follow your passion, darlings! Maybe even find yourself a local dance school or maybe even put on a pair of ballet slippers yourself! You never know where it might lead! But for today, I think we can all agree: thereâs just something magical about a perfectly styled, billowing tutu, especially those soft, graceful shapes, like something out of a dreamy painting!
Stay tuned next week for a journey into the even more captivating era of 1920's, which features the rise of some incredibly iconic ballet dances! In the meantime, youâll find me in a gorgeous pastel pink tulle tutu, swirling around in my little studio! Itâs a little bit of ballet magic for every day! Until next week, darling, and remember - every day can be a #TutuTuesday, why not grab yourself a tulle and let loose?
Keep it elegant, darlings, Emma xx
